Stretcher for wire fences.



s PATBNTED IAUG. 16,1904.

No. 767,585. I

- w. J. MASTERS. I

STR-BTGHBR FOR WIRE FENCES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 17. 1904.

N0 IODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

STRETCHER FOR WIRE FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,585, dated. August 16, 1904:.

Application filed May 17, 1904. Serial No. 208,354. (No model.)

T 0 all whom, it may concern.-

of construction and combination of parts, as

will be fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my Improved wire-stretching device, showing the manner in which thesame is used and adjusted to the post, the said device being constructed and arranged in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of aportion of the device, showing the manner in which a hold is taken on the wire. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.

To construct a wire-stretching device in accordance with my invention that will be simple,durable, easy to operate, and of small initial cost, I provide a bar or lever 4 ofa suitable length. having formed at one end thereof a handle portion 5 and at the other a doublepronged hook 3, the points of which are in a plane at right angles to that of the lever 4, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings. Formed integral with the lever 1 a short distance from the double hook 3 is a shoulder 6, arranged at right angles to the length'of the lever 4 and having an inwardly-sloping or concaved surface the better to retain the wire 2 therein during theoperation. of stretching the same.

Pivoted by means of a rivet 9 to the lever 4 a short distance in front of the shoulder 6 is a clamp 7, the one end formed with an upwardlyextending thumb-piece 8 and the other end with an eccentric serrated face 10, adapted to engage with the wire 2 and hold the same fast against the shoulder 6. Arranged at the front of the clamp is a locking-lever 12, pivoted by means of a rivet 11 and having an outwardlycurved inner end 13, on which a series of barbs 14: are formed, which are adapted to engage with the post 1 and hold the Wire 2 rigid, while height as the wire 2 to be operated upon.

drawing the same taut.

same is being secured by staples to said post, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings.

' In operation the double-pronged hook 3 is engaged with one side of the post 1 at the same T 1e wire 2 is entered behind the shoulder 6 and the clamp 7 moved about its pivot 9 until the serrated face 10 isv brought in contact with said wire, the lever 4. occupying a horizontal position and at an angle with the post and the barbs 14 of the locking-lever free fromsaid post.

The handle 5 is now moved in thearc of a circle, causing the clamp to tighten on the wire and The locking-lever is now operated to engage one or more of the barbs 14 with the post, the'back pressure on the wire 2 holding the device without any other support until the staples are driven and the wire secured. To release the wire 2 from the device, it is only necessary to disengage the clamp 7 by moving the same about its pivot a short distance.

To stretch the wires in an opposite direction from that shown and described, the device is turned upside down, the hooks 3 engaged with the other side of the post, and the lever moved in the opposite direction.

This device may be used for tightening wires on fences that have sagged or become loose and by its construction and arrangement of the parts will take hold on any form of a post, trce, or other angular object.

Various modifications and changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore I do not Wish to confine myself to the exact construction shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A wire-stretcher for fencing purposes, consisting of a suitable lever, hooks formed in the inner end thereof, a shoulder formed on said lever, an eccentric clamp pivoted to said lever adapted to confine a wire against said shoulder, a locking-lever pivoted to the main lever having an inner curved end formed with a series of barbs, and having a handle on its outer end, as and for the purpose described.

2. A wire-stretcher for fencing purposes, consisting of the lever 4, having a handle portion 5 at the one end and a double hook 3 at the other, the said hook being arranged in a 5 Vertical plane and at right angles to said lever,

the shoulder 6 formed on said lever, the pivoted clamp 7 having an eccentric serrated face 10 to engage with the wire operated upon and clamp the same against said shoulder, the lock- IO ing-lever 12, pivoted to the main lever L and havinga handle 12, an outwardly-curved portion 13, and inwardly extending barbs 14, adapted to engage with the post 1, all arranged and combined for service, substantially as and for the purpose described. 15

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J. MASTERS. In presence of ROBERT G. SHEPARD, ANNA CQOHRAN. 

